Rangers sign Gilroy

January 13, 2013

The New York Rangers announced today that the club has agreed to terms with free agent defenseman Matt Gilroy.

Gilroy, 28, has registered six goals and nine assists for 15 points in 34 games with the Connecticut Whale of the American Hockey League (AHL) this season, after signing with the team as a free agent on October 8. He leads all Whale defensemen in goals, is tied for first in points and second in assists. He is also tied for second on Connecticut with four power-play goals.

The North Bellmore, N.Y., native split last season between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Ottawa Senators, establishing NHL career-highs in assists (17), points (20) and hits (59) in 67 games. Gilroy also recorded a career-high, four multi-point performances, including three multi-assist efforts. He began the season with Tampa Bay, where he ranked second among team defensemen in assists (15) and points (17) at the time of his trade to Ottawa on February 27. Gilroy also skated in three playoff contests with the Senators.

The 6-foot-1, 199-pounder has skated in 194 career NHL games in three seasons with the Rangers, Tampa Bay and Ottawa, registering 10 goals and 36 assists for 46 points, along with 55 penalty minutes and a plus-seven rating. He returns to the Rangers where he has recorded seven goals and 19 assists for 26 points in 127 games from 2009-10 to 2010-11, after signing with the team as an undrafted free agent on April 17, 2009.